Best of 2017: Top 10 best movies, from 'Dunkirk' to 'The Post'

The best of the best made me laugh, cry or cry out in laughter, and I’ve been revisiting moments in these films since their final credits rolled:

1. “Dunkirk,” “Their Finest,” “Darkest Hour”: It’s been a good year for British World War II dramas, so these three share the top spot. And what a terrific triple bill! In “Dunkirk,” Christopher Nolan showed the harrowing evacuation of some 400,000 Allied troops from three different perspectives. “Darkest Hours” took you inside Winston Churchill’s (a never better Gary Oldman) head while the events at Dunkirk played out. A Blitz-era love story unfolded in Lone Scherfig’s romantic drama “Their Finest,” about two Brit propaganda screenwriters (Sam Claflin and Gemma Arterton) hired to boost the national pride. And a shout out to Bill Nighy offering plenty of guff as their pompous actor.

2. “The Post”: Steven Spielberg directs Oscar winners Tom Hanks as celebrated Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and Meryl Streep as the paper’s publisher, Katharine Graham, in a historical drama about the publication of the top-secret Pentagon Papers. It’s another winning pro-journalism – and pro-feminist – drama in this modern era of “fake news” and a refresher course on why a robust and free press matters. It opens in Boston on Jan. 5.

3. “Lady Bird”: Actress Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut is a coming-of-age story about “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan, delivering an Oscar-worthy turn), a Sacramento high school senior bent on escaping her mother (Laurie Metcalf, fantastic) and her hometown. Gerwig deftly captures every nuanced adolescent beat without a false note.

4. “Phantom Thread”: In a nutshell, Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie is a love story about a celebrated fashion designer (Daniel Day-Lewis) developing a relationship with a working-class woman (Vicky Krieps) in 1950s London. Beneath the surface lies a suspenseful costume drama full of mystery and madness. Lesley Manville nearly steals the picture, and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood supplies a delicious score. It opens in Boston on Jan. 12.

5. “The Shape of Water”: Who says fairy tales are just for kids? Oscar-winning producer, director and screenwriter Guillermo del Toro proved they are anything but when a mute cleaning woman (Sally Hawkins) falls for an amphibious man held captive in a Cold War-era government lab. As del Toro proved with “Pan’s Labyrinth,” he is a master at making heartfelt gothic tales involving monsters and broken humans. And there’s no denying those sincere elements are why “The Shape of Water” is overflowing with Oscar buzz.

6. “The Big Sick”: The autobiographical rom-com written by Kumail Nanjiani (playing himself) and his wife, Emily V. Gordon, is a healthy reminder of how vulnerable, sweet and bittersweet love, in all its forms, can be. With an assist from producer Judd Apatow, the multilayered tale of interracial romance doesn’t sacrifice sentiment for the sake of its jokes. It helps that the story is a true original – one that you have to really see to believe. Kudos to Holly Hunter and Ray Romano for a pair of Oscar-worthy performances as Nanjiani’s future in-laws.

7. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”: You don’t want to mess with Frances McDormand’s grieving mother in Martin McDonagh’s sharp, dark comedy. Her Mildred Hayes is fierce, unflappable, tenacious, brave, compassionate, foul-mouthed and just about any other adjective you can think up. Just give her the Oscar, already. Equally impressive is Sam Rockwell’s dim-witted police officer who dares to take on Mildred. McDonagh’s story of vengeance and justice and love offers no answers and doesn’t always go down easy. But given McDonagh’s whip-smart track record (“Seven Psychopaths,” “In Bruges”), there’s a lot of humor among the heartache.

8. “I, Tonya”: A scathing and sympathetic dramedy about disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie, never better), famous for being the first woman to land a triple axel in international competition and infamous for getting mixed up in the plot to take out rival Nancy Kerrigan. Director Craig Gillespie tells her warts-and-all story the way it should be – mockumentary-style. Allison Janney plays Tonya’s tortuous mother, and Sebastian Stan her abusive husband, Jeff Gillooly.

9. “Wonder Woman”: We might not have a woman in the Oval Office, but – at long last – there’s a female superhero for our time – and she’s flipping awesome. Gal Gadot’s righteous gal stands (very) tall for truth, justice, goodness and love. Patty Jenkins (the Oscar-winning “Monster”) takes womankind a step forward in telling the origin story of Wonder Woman, aka Diana Prince. Fuel up the Invisible Jet. You’re in for a ride.

10. “Last Flag Flying”: Three Vietnam veterans – Steve Carell (the sad sack), Bryan Cranston (the obnoxious one) and Laurence Fishburne (the sanctimonious one), reunite for a road trip to pick up the body of one of their sons who was killed in Iraq. Richard Linklater directs and the trio of stars infuses the film with heart, humor and hijinks. Cranston is a marvel in this underrated gem.